Bishop’s Consecration and Installation of the Head of the Slovak Greek Catholic Church in Prešov
On January 27, 2024, in the Cathedral Church of St. John the Baptist in Prešov (Slovakia), with the participation of the Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, about 60 bishops from Ukraine and around the world, more than 250 priests, numerous monastic congregations of Ukraine and Slovakia and laypeople, the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with the consecration and installation of Bishop Jonah Maksim as Archbishop and Metropolitan of Prešov of the Slovak Greek Catholic Church was held.
Episcopal consecration and installation
Bishop Cyril Vasil, the main consecrator of the Diocese of Košice, led the prayer service. The co-consecrators were Bishop Venedykt Aleksiychuk, the Eparch of Chicago of the UGCC, and Bishop Peter Rusnak, the Apostolic Administrator of the Eparchy of Prešov.
The solemn Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was accompanied by three choirs: KLIROS from Lviv, the Cathedral Choir of St. Paul Goydich, and members of the priestly choir of St. John of Damascus.
The episcopal consecration began with a large liturgical procession in the square before the cathedral. In the church, the nominee bishop made a profession of faith.
Word of Bishop Cyril Vasil
“You have become a bishop, a shepherd of God’s flock. The bishop is the image of Christ in the Church. His role is to open the doors of the Kingdom of God,” said the Metropolitan of Prešov.
“We, who greet you today, see in you exactly what is expected of every servant of God who is entrusted with the sacred rank of bishop. This position is a sign and place of direct unity with Christ,” the bishop added.
Word of Metropolitan Jonah
“Today I would like to express in a special way my deep gratitude to the Ukrainian people and the entire Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the person of you, its Head and representative, Your Beatitude Sviatoslav,” he said.
“Your Beatitude, together with many bishops, heads of monastic orders, and the faithful, you have come from Ukraine to this city, Prešov, to share our joy with me and the entire Greek Catholic Church in Slovakia. To you, Your Beatitude, and to all the bishops, abbots, monasteries, and all those who came from Ukraine, I thank you from the bottom of my heart! It is a great honor for me that you are here today. It has been a privilege for me to live, work, serve, and share the joys and concerns for the people and the Church in Ukraine, especially in this difficult and testing time of Russia’s unjust, aggressive, and invasive war against Ukraine,” he said.
He added: “During my 20 years in Ukraine, you all have become an intrinsic part of my personal history. I loved Ukraine, its people, its various cities and villages. Your love of freedom and commitment to defend your God-given homeland inspire me. I also prayed for Ukraine today and asked the Lord for grace so that light and truth may triumph over darkness and deception, so that life may triumph over death, and so that the desire to live, develop, and create freedom for the children of God may triumph over destruction and annihilation. May the almighty Lord God protect and bless Ukraine!” Metropolitan Jonah emphasized.
Word of His Beatitude Sviatoslav
“Your Grace, Archbishop! You are a spiritual gift of Ukraine to Slovakia, a spiritual gift of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church to the Greek Catholics of Slovakia, and a spiritual gift of the Holy Dormition Univ Lavra for the Archeparchy of Prešov,” His Beatitude Sviatoslav emphasized.
“I believe that we will seek depth together”
After the consecration, the newly installed Bishop Jonah held a press conference. Answering journalists’ questions, he said that, in his opinion, Slovakia needs depth.
“We should try to go deeper and deeper. I believe that we will seek this depth together. Jesus makes it possible for those who believe,” he said.
— Are you ready to become a metropolitan?
“Are you ready? I already am! I once asked a friend if he was ready to become a father. He explained this was not the point because he had already become a father. So today, I have already become a bishop.”
— What was the most memorable part of today?
“The words of Bishop Cyril and His Beatitude Sviatoslav from Ukraine, and the moment of standing in front of the altar.”
— Will the Slovak metropolitan help Ukrainians?
This is an undeniable truth for Bishop Jonah. He is well aware of the situation in Ukraine and will support Ukrainians living in Slovakia.
— What does it mean to draw to the depths?
“It is the task of opening God’s presence to each person in their respective roles: bishop, priest, and layman.”
The UGCC Department for Information
